Retrograde! But, Make It Fashion: Moon
Welcome back, friends, and welcome to the fashion show... sort of. This illustration of the Moon is the final illustration in this little miniseries I have been working on. This might have been posted a little sooner, but covid called and I was forced to answer. So, needless to say, I was out and as a result, sharing these a month after when I had planned to have them all completed. In any case, I am glad you all hung in there and are here to discuss a little about art and astrology and astrological art.
SIDE NOTE HERE: Most of what you are about to read, below, will be repeated in each of the mini blogs about this series. I chose to do this because not everyone reads each individual blog and it is important to discuss some of the general information in each post. This way, if someone only reads one post, they still gain the benefit of the knowledge below. So, if you plan to read all the posts about this series, please forgive the repetition in some of them.
I call this mini illustration series: Retrograde, but Make it Fashion. It's a strange title for a strange idea. However, the origins of my idea for this series' concept does have a grounding in the logical world. I'm not completely in the clouds with this one... well, not entirely. lol
Last December, Venus was stationed retrograde and I had the idea for an illustration. Venus is the planet that governs pleasure, beauty, and attraction (among other things) in astrology. I was thinking a fun way to personify Venus was to transform her into a kind of Supermodel walking down the runway, or posing at the end of it, or just about to turn... I hadn't planned out all the details, because I ended up not working on it within the time frame of when Venus was in retrograde. So, I shelved the idea, until now. With so many planets currently in retrograde right now, I thought, "why don't I pull that Venus retrograde illustration idea out of the morgue and modify it to these other planets?" Thus the pursuit of making a little illustration series on the subject ensued.
I remember making a note on the Venus Illustration entry in my Idea Journal. The title was originally Venus, Sashay Away. It is a reference to the very popular drag competition show Ru Paul's Drag Race. Ru Paul, when she is eliminating a contestant, uses the signature phrase (modified/based on her hit song Supermodel) "Sashay, Away!" There's an animated GIF of it that I like to use sometimes and it ALWAYS gives me a private chuckle. I thought it an appropriate way to conceptualize a planet's astrological retrograde period.
I'm sure you have been asking this question to yourself (and to me) since you started reading this post. Probably you were wondering, in your mind, "What on earth is he even talking about?" Well, funny you should think that. Our position and view here on earth have EVERYTHING to do with explaining what a retrograde is. A retrograde (or planetary retrograde) is when a planet seems to be moving backward in the sky from our perspective here on Earth. In reality: No, planets don’t actually move backward. It’s an optical illusion due to the speed of the Earth’s rotation. But what ancient people realized is that when a planet changes direction or shifts in speed, what it rules will see challenges or confusion in our lives during that specific time.
Astrology is a science that utilizes the placement of the planets to make insightful predictions about how life on Earth is going to develop. It has been around for centuries and that is why we have been able to notice patterns throughout time, refining itself, to figure out that when the planets move, something here on Earth will be affected. You may or may not believe in Astrology, or you might think that it's just a cute part of your daily morning news feed. You may only think it's an amusing thing to discuss on a first date. It isn't my job or inclination to convince you of its validity. I will, however, say this: The waves in our Ocean are created by the gravity of our orbiting moon. The powerful gravity of Jupiter is what protects asteroids and other debris from crashing constantly into Earth (Thank you, Jupiter.) These are both invisible forces. And if this is what they can do to large masses in this universe, what do you think these invisible forces are doing to us or the environment we live in. We are, after all, 70% water. What "waves" is our Moon producing within us? Something to think about. I will leave defending the merits of Astrology as a science to the Astrologers, themselves. I'm just a weekend tourist. They actually live in that building.
Let's get back to talking about the retrograde.
A planetary retrograde is broken down into 3 phases: Pre-Shadow, Retrograde, and Post-Shadow.
In the pre-shadow phase, when the planet starts to slow down from our viewpoint on Earth, we start to see problems crop up and realize some current situations might be on rocky ground. This can last for weeks or months prior, depending on which planet it is.
The actual retrograde phase is when you see the problems that started to announce themselves in the pre-shadow blow-up in front of you. This is when the planet is taking control and moving backward in the sky. In reality, new information regarding what the planet rules are emerging in our lives — something we probably had overlooked originally. The universe is bringing it out dramatically in your face now to show you that you must pay attention to this before you proceed.
The post-shadow phase is when the planet is finally moving forward in the sky again but is still gaining speed to catch up with where it originally fell behind. Once a planet moves past this point in the sky, life should move along much more easily. The post-shadow phase is especially important because it helps us to resolve whatever popped up during the previous two periods so that we are on a better track moving forward.
That being said...
In astrology, there are two Luminaries: The Sun and The Moon. They are the brightest and most important "planets" in the astrological heavens. They are our source of light. They are considered the rulers of our day and night and afford significant and separate classification from the other "planets." Sun and Moon have to do with mankind's spiritual consciousness, while planetary influences operate through physical mechanism. Both luminaries do not retrograde because the mechanism of retrograde is based on the Sun at the center of that transitional planetary motion. The moon is exempt also because it orbits the Earth and not the Sun.
Let's talk about them, shall we? This illustration is devoted to the Moon.
image: Canada Space Agency
So, in astrology, what exactly does The Moon represent and why should we care about it?
In astrology, the moon represents the inner world—our emotions, and what we need in order to feel safe. So when each zodiac sign learns how to work with the moon cycle, they can better understand this powerful, natural satellite that’s orbiting Earth.
When the moon enters a new phase, we get an opportunity to align and utilize its unique energy. The moon itself is not actually changing shape, but rather it is the shadow of the Earth that blocks/distorts the amount of light that the moon is able to capture from the Sun and reflect back to us. In astrology, the phases of the moon are amplified in meaning with the astrological shifts. The moon completes its lunar cycle in 29.5 days. This means that we experience each moon phase for about 3.7 days. Every 2.5 days the moon moves into a new zodiac sign. So, as you can imagine, the combination of all of these variables adds up to numerous ways that the Moon is affecting us.
THE EIGHT CYCLES OF THE MOON:
New moon: The darkest phase of the moon in which the sky looks void in the evening as the illuminated side of the moon faces the sun. The new moon is astrologically always the same sign as the sun. This is a primary moon phase.
Waxing crescent moon: The silver sliver of the moon. This phase occurs as the moon begins to show more illumination with only a tiny portion visible to us on earth. This is a secondary moon phase.
First-quarter moon: The moon at this phase is a quarter of the way through the lunar cycle. Half will be illuminated and visible, the other half will still be invisible to the human eye. This is a primary moon phase.
Waxing gibbous moon: Most of the moon is now visible in the sky. This is the last “growth” or waxing phase before the moon is fully illuminated. This is a secondary moon phase.
Full moon: Full illumination on the moon from the sun’s beams. This phase is always going to leave the moon in the opposite (or sister sign) to the sun’s current sign. This is a primary moon phase.
Waning gibbous moon: The moon begins to lessen, leaving a small sliver invisible to us as the illuminated portion lessens day by day. The moon begins to rise later each night as it is waning, and it is still moving down the zodiac wheel in chronological order. This is a secondary moon phase.
Third-quarter moon: Sometimes referred to as the “last quarter moon,” this phase is known to rise around midnight and set around noon. This is a primary moon phase.
Waning crescent moon: The moon is just about invisible to the human eye with only a small sliver left of illumination. We see this as a thin sliver on the opposite side of the cycle as a waxing crescent. This phase is the final before a moon enters into its next new moon phase. Astrologically, this is going to coincide with the final zodiac sign before the one that the sun currently occupies.
So why is it so important to understand the Moon, its phases, what sign it's in, and what that means astrologically? Well, understanding what it means helps us to understand how we can get our needs met, we will be prepared for the ebbs and flows of what life has to offer us, and we will have a deeper connection and intelligent understanding of our emotions and how they can and will be affected at any given time with any given transit... Just look up at the moon to know.
My illustration of the Moon coincides with the lunar eclipse in Taurus that happened on November 8th, 2022. What is an eclipse, you might ask? What does an eclipse mean in astrology? A lunar eclipse is when the moon moves completely into the Earth's shadow. The Sun, the Earth, and the Moon are all lined up with the Earth in the center. This is also what gives the Full Beaver Moon its reddish hue. Oh yeah, didn't I mention it? This Lunar eclipse also falls on the Moon Cycle of a Full Moon. The reason we call it a Beaver Full Moon is because this is typically the time of year that beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges for the winter.
Now we already know what a full moon means in astrology, but what about a lunar eclipse? Lunar eclipses are viewed in astrology as being deeply transformative times that can bring abrupt and sudden change. They are like the cosmic helping hands of the universe. If there are decisions or actions we've avoided, then this final eclipse of 2022 will step in and force our hands. So the fact that this full moon lands also on a lunar eclipse, the energy and effects are much stronger.
The eclipse takes place on the Taurus/Scorpio axis, an axis associated with both life and death. Taurus is an Earth sign, fixed energy (meaning the energy of sustainability). Taurus brings Spring, growth in all the plants, plenty of food, and the birth of new life on the planet. Taurus is often associated with our homes and the stability of that home life. If we think about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Taurus represents our shelter, our clothing, and food. This is the area in which we will see the eclipse take effect in our lives.
For a more clarified understanding of how this astrological event will affect your Sun Sign, click HERE.
Before we go, let's talk a little bit about the art.
I explained the concept behind these odd but fun little illustrations. One of the things I wanted to pay homage to was the 1902 French film Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon.) I have always been impressed and inspired by that iconic image of the moon with that face in it. I'm certain that this image has inspired so many other artists and each has paid tribute to this treasure of cinema history. In my case, conceptually, I wouldn't be able to center a face within my illustrated planets. They are in retrograde, and they are sashaying away from us. So we would only see their "dark sides of" or the back of their "heads" if you will. I still wanted to see a face on them in some way. I really wanted to superimpose the faces of real supermodels onto them. So, I came up with the idea of them looking back; serving us one last lewk before continuing on their retrograded ways.
Photo: Le Voyage dans la Lune, 1902.
This illustration more so than any of the others draws a direct and clear line back to Le Voyage dans la Lune. However, it was very important for me to not just copy from the image you see from the film above. I needed my Moon to feel very different and to encompass visually all that he was needing to represent within this astrological event. His face is based on that of a fashion model. I saw this really down-to-earth sensibility and sensitivity within it and knew that I wanted to base my Moon on their face. The trouble was, I hadn't drawn it that way the first time around. lol. I drew a face that I ended up hating. I ended up going back and drawing a new head, inking the new head, and then combining it with the inking of the first drawing I did. I was doing some mad Frankenstien-like surgery in Photoshop that day.
Since The Moon never retrogrades, it was a visual and important distinction that he not be walking away and looking back as the other planets have been illustrated doing in this series. Also, since the Moon only stays in a sign for a few days at a time, it was important that the moon is in motion. So it felt only natural that he be walking toward us, on his way to the end of the catwalk ready to illuminate what was previously in darkness.
Recreating the surface of the moon was a bit tricky. In the end, I think I ended up with roughly 8 layers of textures and painting to create the texture. Tricky but I am happy with its outcome.
Since Taurus topics are that of the physical body, autonomy, the land, the environment, resources, and values, I knew that I wanted to select a garment that looked and "felt" very tactile and luxurious. I also wanted to conceptually and visually represent how the Moon is in constant and fast motion. Since Mars was going to represent sports/athleticwear, I thought that it was a perfect fit to have the Moon wear athleisure. Sporty but with all the comforts of home.
Again, I am playing with associated planetary gender. I am choosing to portray Moon as male when Moon is normally associated with the feminine and considered female in nature.
The Moon is seen here wearing an outfit designed by Danish designer Astrid Anderson. This was from her 2018 Spring/Summer Runway collection. It premiered during London Fashion Week Mens in the United Kingdom. Within this collection, Anderson explored the following themes and styles: basketball sportswear, safari outfits, athleisure activewear trackwear track pants, silk satin, flowers floral leaves foliage botanical print, drawstring, stripes, mix & match mash-up, velvet, lace embroidery needlework mesh, plush fur, outerwear coat, bomber jacket, sweater jumper, tanktop, hooded sweatshirt, long shirt, cargo pockets, utility shorts, wide leg slouchy, jogger sweatpants, hat neck shade, bangles bracelet, and armband.
What I love most about this particular outfit is its mix of different luxurious textures. Some are soft. Some a furry. Some shimmer. Some are fibrous and warm. Some feel sleek and silky... ALL of the Taurus things are wrapped up and represented in a single high-fashion garment. I love how it mixes the sporty basketball crop top with the luxurious fur and then it dissolves into the knits of the wool sweater sleeves, then it flows into the silky undershirt and shorts only to be encapsulated by this chevron patterned fur. It's just too cool for school to be honest and I think represents what is going on astrologically with the moon.
A few brief detail notes: The basketball on the crop top I transformed into the symbol for Taurus. I love and adore the golden amber eyes. I also really like the background which is meant to represent the phases of the moon.
That pretty much sums up this blog entry for the Moon and my little illustration of him. This also concludes the miniseries of illustrations and mini-blogs. I hope you all enjoyed them as much as I have creating/writing them. I hope you all weathered the full moon eclipse in Taurus last month and look fabulous while doing it.
Until next time, friends...
Keep dreaming, keep sketching, keep thinking, keep laughing, and most important of all, keep making art.
*Some of the retrograde information cited from:
Here’s what a retrograde in astrology means and how it affects you by Kyle Thomas @ New York Post.
What the Moon Phases Means for Astrology—And How to Use It for Manifestation by Meghan Rose @ GLAMOUR
Some information cited from Wikipedia.org
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